Board Minutes - 22 October 2007
Public Version
Meeting of the .au Domain Administration Board
22 October 2007 - 1.00pm
Maddocks. Level 7, 140 William Street. Melbourne VIC 3000
Present:
Chris Disspain, Marty Drill, Brett Fenton, David Goldstein, Julie Hammer, Kim Heitman, Cheryl Langdon-Orr, Jo Lim, Bennett Oprysa, Josh Rowe and Tony Staley
Observers:
John Higgins (Hayes Knight), Nikki Vajrabukka and Paul Szyndler (DCITA)
Apologies:
Peter Shilling
1. Continuous Disclosure
JR advised that he has resigned as a director and shareholder of reseller Sanctum Internet Pty Ltd.
CLO advised that she may be appointed chair of ICANN’s At-Large Advisory Committee at the upcoming ICANN meeting.
2. Confirmation of Minutes
The minutes of the August and October 2007 meetings were confirmed.
3. Finance Report
The board noted the September accounts.
4. CEO Report
The following issues were noted:
• Stability and Security Advisory Committee (SSAC)
The next SSAC meeting is scheduled for December. The SSAC is likely to propose that auDA commission an independent security review and threat assessment of .au. The SSAC’s role will be to evaluate the independent report and make recommendations to the auDA board.
The board noted that auDA is also participating in a government security review of critical national infrastructure.
Action: The SSAC to prepare an indicative workplan and timetable for board approval.
5. auDA Strategic Plan
The board discussed the redrafted Strategic Plan and noted actions completed to date. The following additions to the plan were suggested:
• a strategy for identifying new technological developments that may impact on .au (more than just a technology refresh)
• listing some national fora in representational activities, eg. NICTIA, IPv6 Summit
• reference to the auDA Foundation and auCD.
The board agreed that public consultation on the Strategic Plan would help to improve auDA’s relationship with its key stakeholders and may increase general public awareness and support of auDA’s role and activities. It was suggested that public consultation should also focus on membership and the types of services that members might want or expect from auDA.
The board discussed the merits of accepting Patrick Sharry’s proposal without seeking wider expressions of interest/alternative proposals but accepted that, while that was normal prudent practice, in this particular instance, Patrick Sharry’s experience in facilitating consultation on the ICANN Strategic Plan gave him unique skills and understanding in this regard.
Action: CD to amend the draft Strategic Plan as agreed, and request Patrick Sharry to revise his public consultation proposal to include membership issues.
6. Policy Development
• 2007 Names Policy Panel
DW gave a progress report. The Panel held its second public consultation during September, to which there was a relatively low response rate. The Panel has reached agreement on the issue of direct registrations and some minor changes to the policy rules. The secondary market issue remains outstanding; although the majority of Panel members support relaxation of the current transfer policy, the supporters and opponents of an open secondary market hold equally strong views. The Panel is expected to hold its final meeting on 23 October.
The board requested feedback from the Panel on new elements introduced to the advisory panel process this year, including payment of expenses for some Panel members, inclusion of auDA directors on the Panel, and the market research surveys commissioned by auDA.
• auDRP review
auDA reviewed the auDRP in August/September. Eight public submissions were received, including from three of the four auDRP Providers.
The board agreed that the following amendments will be made to the auDRP Policy and Rules:
• increase the fees by a reasonable amount, subject to further consultation with Providers
• clarify that Panelists may use website archives such as the “Wayback Machine” to assist in making a determination
• clarify auDA’s role in relation to ensuring the overall integrity of the auDRP, and that in the case of substantive procedural flaws in a proceeding, auDA may request that the Provider re-administer the proceeding.
The board also agreed that action should be taken to improve auDRP awareness and education, such as conducting information seminars and workshops for Panelists.
• CGDN review
auDA reviewed the CGDN Policy Rules and Guidelines in August/September. No public submissions were received. auDA held consultations with auCD staff, and the auCD board endorsed the recommendations going forward to the auDA board.
The board agreed that auDA and auCD will undertake the following actions:
• in consultation with the CGNA and other relevant stakeholders, examine the possibility of making regional names and names of cultural significance (including capital city names) available for registration as CGDNs
• seek advice about the legal status of Special Committees of Council (or equivalent) and their suitability to hold a CGDN licence.
7. auDA Foundation Report
The board noted the report.
Action: CD to provide the board with copies (or a summary) of the final reports from the first round of funding grants in 2006.
8. auCD Report
The board noted the report, including advice that auCD has reduced its domain name licence target for the 2007 calendar year from 100 to 33. The board discussed reasons why the target had been reduced and its effect on auCD’s obligations under the Grant Agreement between auDA and auCD. It was agreed that auDA and auCD should be working together to improve the takeup of CGDNs, for example, by making changes to the policy rules (as per the outcome of the CGDN review). Further discussion of this item was held over to the next meeting.
9. Appointment of Independent Director
This item was held over to the next meeting.
10. Membership Applications
This item was held over to the next meeting.
11. Board correspondence
This item was held over to the next meeting.
12. Next Meeting
The next board meeting will be held on Monday 10 December in Melbourne.